Objective: It is widely recognized that physicians’ attitudes toward mental disorders significantly influence the prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment of these conditions. This study aimed to evaluate the perceptions of first- and sixth-year medical students regarding schizophrenia through the use of metaphors.
Method: A qualitative research design was employed, utilizing thematic analysis of responses to a specific task. The study was conducted at a faculty of medicine in Turkiye and included both first- and sixth-year medical students. The researchers developed a Metaphorical Perceptions Data Collection Form, which consisted of two parts: the first gathered demographic information about the students, and the second explored students’ metaphors for schizophrenia using the prompt, “Schizophrenia is like..., because... (In your opinion, what does schizophrenia resemble? Why?).” A total of 144 medical students’ metaphors about schizophrenia were analyzed.
Results: Approximately half of the metaphors created by the medical students related to the symptomatology of schizophrenia, reflecting the diagnostic criteria of the disorder. The remaining metaphors portrayed schizophrenia as uncontrollable, harmful, or as a condition requiring care and attention. No significant difference was found between the metaphors generated by first- and sixth-year medical students.
Conclusion: To reduce negative attitudes toward mental disorders in medical education, more contemporary and innovative educational models are necessary.